Lengemann appointed to West Point Academy

Imlay senior makes good impression during visit

 

IMLAY CITY — An appointment to West Point, in New York, doesn’t happen every day. Especially in a small rural community.

That’s exactly what transpired when Imlay City High School senior Alexa Lengemann learned of her honor with higher education.

During a ceremony Wednesday afternoon, surrounded by family and school staff, Lengemann signed papers stating once she is done with high school, she will be heading to the prestigious academy.

Lengemann’s journey into the military world has been guided by her parents Alex and Jennifer Lengemann. Alex served his country in the U.S. Army while Jennifer was in the U.S. Air Force.

“Seeing how we are both former military, we kind of led Alexa to considering either branch of service,” her father said. “As a sophomore, she discussed her future with us and she knew she wanted to follow in our footsteps.”

According to her father, at one point, the Imlay City senior was sure she was going in to the Air Force, following a trip to tour the facility as a middle school student. She wanted to be a military pilot. Then her young mind changed one more time.

“When she was a junior, we were able to get her in to these summer experience camps for both places,” her dad recalled. “She came home and was convinced that she was doing Air Force. That was final. Then she went to the Army experience camp and everything changed. She knew where she was going and was determined to work hard to make it happen.”

Typically, an appointment to West Point goes through the U.S. Congress. That wasn’t the case for Alexa.

“After those camps, she received notification directly from West Point, a Letter of Assurance, that they wanted her, the proud father said.

“That happened last September and we drove out there to tour the Academy and went to a football game in October.”

Alex went on to add, “We are proud of her and how hard she has worked to get to this point. She will graduate from high school in June and will leave for West Point three weeks later, for basic training.”

Her father said Alexa is interested in pursuing the field of Internal Affairs upon completion of her time at West Point. When she graduates, she will hold the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

She may look into some type of intelligence or the CIA, depending on where her military upper brass decides where she excels the most.

Alexa is required to serve five years active duty and another three years as a reserve.

The Academy is located in West Point, New York and was established as a fort during the American Revolutionary War, due to it’s strategic high ground overlooking the Hudson River 50 miles north of New York City.

The academy was founded in 1802, and it is the oldest of the five American service academies and educates cadets for commissioning into the United States Army.

West Point is considered prestigious primarily because of its long history of producing exceptional military leaders, its rigorous academic program combined with intensive leadership training, a strong emphasis on character development, and a highly selective admissions process, all rooted in the core values of “Duty, Honor, and Country.”

The academy instills a strong sense of duty, honor, and country in its cadets, shaping their character and commitment to service.

The academy offers a demanding curriculum with a focus on engineering, science, and leadership studies, ensuring graduates are well-rounded and prepared for complex military roles.

West Point prioritizes leadership training through practical exercises, cadet leadership positions, and a strong emphasis on ethical decision-making.

In 1975, Congress passed legislation allowing women to enroll at the federal service academies. The following summer, 119 women arrived at West Point for Cadet Basic Training as part of the Class of 1980.

Four years later, 62 women graduated, with Andrea Hollen, a Rhodes Scholar, as the first woman to graduate from the Academy.

“It can be quite difficult to get in to West Point as a female,” Alex explained. “Her entire family is so proud of her and happy for her.”

Alexa, 17, is a three-sport athlete at Imlay City and is a standout student in the classroom.

She has a younger brother, Levi, a Spartan sophomore who loves baseball, according to his dad.

The family intends to travel to West Point for “Reception Day” when parents drop off recruits and have 90 seconds to say goodbye.

When the day comes for their goodbyes in a few months, family members will smile with pride, give quick hugs and wipe away tears, as their recruit heads off to life-changing experiences.